Nicolas Bisaillon admitted to being a little anxious waiting for his first experience as a professional to come.

But any jitters disappeared quickly when the long-awaited opportunity finally happened yesterday.

The Laval University product had been on the sidelines for the first 11 days of the Edmonton Eskimos' training camp nursing a hamstring injury he suffered while preparing for camp. Once cleared to go, Bisaillon suited up in full gear and hit the field in full stride.

Though listed as a running back, the

23-year-old from La Tuque, Quebec, joined the receiving corps for most of the drills yesterday and didn't look out of place as a slotback. His best moves, however, came as a kick returner. He showed some quick feet and a few slick cuts which will likely afford him some action during tomorrow's preseason game against Saskatchewan.

"Very happy," said Bisaillon, the Esks' fifth-round pick in the 2006 Canadian College Draft. "I practised for two days during the rookie camp and then when the veterans arrived, I knew it was my real chance to prove what I could do. It was real hard on me not being able to practise, but I feel I have one more week and I hope I can show them what I can do."

Especially for a rookie, the adjustment from watching plays on sideline to running them on the field can take some time to pick up.

But Bisaillon flashed enough of his talents to warrant some serious consideration from the coaching staff.

"When a guy's healthy you put him in there and when he's not you go with the guys you've got," said Eskimos special teams coach Malvin Hunter.

"We've got a good group of return men, but he'll get some touches in this game and we'll see how it works out."